Earth moving device



Aug. 13, 1935.

R. E. CHOATE ET AL EARTH MOVING DEVICE Filed Sept. 5 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR-S aw ECHO/9T5.

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ATTORN E i Aug. 13, 1935. R. E. cHoA-i-E ET AL 2,011,191

EARTH MOVING DEIVICE Filed Sept. 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet? a INVENTOR.

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Patented Au 13, 1935 EARTH MOVING DEVICE Roy E.

Choate and Waldo E. Rodler,

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, assignors to La Plant-Choate Manufacturing Co. Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Application September 5, 1933, Serial No. 688,179

'7 Claims.

Our invention relates to earth moving devices and has particular relation to a means for adjustably securing a scraper blade, a plow, or the like to a tractor or other prime mover.

It is a common expedient to mount a scraper blade, a plow, or the like on a framework which is pivotally attached to a tractor with the blade in front of the tractor, but if the scraper blade is in any other position than at right angles to the tractor, a turning moment or side draft is set up which tends to turn the tractor from its course. 4

Furthermore, such mountings are not always entirely satisfactory from the standpoint of ease of adjustment and strength, and'the means for holding the blade in position may interfere with the smooth progress of the machine through material being moved.

We have, therefore, devised a mechanism which overcomes the dimculties above pointed out, and

several positions with regard to the scraperblade-supporting-means and the tractor.

Another object of our invention is to provide a scraper blade, a push pole for a scraper blade, anda blade supporting framework, which parts present a relatively smooth surface to the material at the side of the blade after the cutting edge of the blade has passed.

Another object of our invention is to provide an improved means for locking a blade in place with reference to the blade supporting structure.

Another object of our invention is to provide an improved scraper blade and push pole therefor.

Another object of our invention is to provide a blade, a blade supporting means, and a push pole which shall 'ofier a relatively large area to prevent the scraper blade from digging into the side hill and causing side draft on tractor due vto the angular position of the blade;

Another object of our invention is to provide a device of the above character which may be quickly and readily adjusted by the operator. .Other and, further features and objects of our invention will be more apparent to those Skilled,

in the art upon a consideration of the accompanying drawings and following specification, wherein is disclosed an exemplary embodiment of the invention, with the understanding, however, that such changes may be made therein as fall within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a tractor to which a blade supporting framework, a blade, and a push pole constructed according to our invention, have been applied. H

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the front portion of the machine shown in Figure 1, but with the blade held in right-angled position with respect to the tractor, as the blade would be used in pushing material ahead of itself.

A Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of the push pole such as shown in Figures 1 and 2 as the push pole appears when in use. A portion of the blade supporting framework is shown in section for better illustration of the push pole-construction.

Figure 4 is a view in perspective taken from a rear quartering position showing the right hand. end ofthe scraper blade and the stiffening and attaching members thereof.

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of a push pole constructed according to our invention as it appears while in place projecting in front of and operatively engaged with the A frame which supports the scraper blade. Portions of the push pole and A frame have been broken away to show the details of construction of the device.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the front of the A frame and of the scraper blade as it appears while in a bulldozing adjustment of the scraper blade, that is, with the scraper blade at right angles with the longitudinal axis of .the earth moving device; and

Figure 7 is a plan view of the front end of the A frame and of the scraper blade as they appear when the blade is in the backfilling position, that is, at an angle of less than 90'with respect to the longitudinal axis of the earth moving device.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown at It), generally, a tractor of usual construction utilizing link belt treads which are indicated at ll. of course, the device may be employed with any suitable prime mover, such as a wagon, a locomotive or the like.

A blade-supporting framework comprised of idframe members l2, l3 and I4 is pivotally engaged on a shaft l5 which in turn is supported by a bracket 1. The bracket I1 is supported on the sub-frame l8 upon which the link belts I run, and these sub-frames afford means of supporting the chassis of,the tractor on the belts in accordance with usual practice as exemplified in an application for patent made by ourselves, filed May 9th, 1932, SerialNumber 610,194.

As may be well understood in accordance with the features of the above application for patent, there are a pair of these side frame members, one on each side of the tractor. The front ends of these side frame members are joined by means of an A frame indicated generally at I9. The

front ends of the side frame members l3 and M 'and a universal joint structure 21 is secured to the apex of the nose 26. Brackets 28 are fastened to the scraper blade 29 and are pivotally engaged to the member 21 to afford means for tilting the scraper blade from side to side. The particular universal joint structure and the means for locking the blade in place is specifically described and claimed in the patent of Herbert H.

Pearson for Earth moving devices, patented May 29, 1934, Number 1,961,011 and need not be further considered at this time as it constitutes no part of the present invention except insofar as these parts cooperate with, and are modified for use with, our improved scraper blade and push pole structure.

In accordance with the above Herbert H. Pearson .patent, the blade may be adjusted in a horizontal plane about the blades vertical axis, or tilted in a vertical plane about the blades transverse horizontal axis. The top of the blade may be tilted forward and back and this adjustment may be considered as tilting the blade about its own horizontal longitudinal axis. In the extreme position of adjusting the blade in a horizontal plane aboutthe'blades vertical axis, the blade may be-locked to either the member 2| or the member 22 by means of one or the other of the curved members 3| which are fastened to the rear of the blade at either end thereof. The lockmg means is not shown as it constitutes no part of the present invention.

While the blade 29 might be held in one or the other of the extreme positions by means of a locking means indicated at 3|, it is apparent that in using the blade the outer end or the end opposite from the locking means would not be braced with reference to the A frame l9, and that consequently the load on the blade would have to be taken through the lever arm afiorded by the blade itself if no. other or additional bracing means were employed. Furthermore, it is sometimes desirable that the blade be permitted to float while it is in the extreme positions or in intermediate position. ,It is desirable, therefore, that the blade may be, at times} p rmitted to tilt from side to side, that is, the ends of the blades are permitted to move 'up and down.

.We therefore provide a pushynole or bracing construction and may be engaged and disengaged with a minimum of effort and in a short period of time.

A preferred form of the push pole is shown in the drawings. The, push pole, indicated generally at 32, is comprised of a channel 33 having its ends closed oif by partitions 34 and 36 and 34a and 36a. A clevis member 31, which includes the partitions 34 and 36, is fastened in one end of the channel 33 as by riveting or welding. The other end of the channel '33 is provided with a bracket member 38 which includes the partitions-34a and 36a and a longitudinally extending opening 39 is provided in the member 38. A pin or shaft 4| may be disposed in the opening 39 and may be locked place by means of a pin 42 which passes through suitable transverse openings in the walls of. the channel and the wall of the bracket 38. When the shaft 4| is in position, approximately half of its length. projects beyond the end of the push pole 32.

The members 2| and 22 are provided with socket members 43 for the reception of the outwardly ex-- tending portion of the shaft 4|.

.down movement of the shafts 4| in the socket members is greater in-a vertical than in a horizontal direction the cone-shaped member is preferably flattened vertically near the base so that the greatest inside diameter at the base of the w cone member is vertical. The cone-shaped member 43 is inserted in a transversely and angularly extending plate 43a and the cone member is received in suitable openings in the sidewalls of the members 2| and 22 in such a manner that the angularly extending plates abut the outside faces of the members 2| and 22 and such that the axes of the cones are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the earth moving device. I

In using one or more of the push poles the front endof the pole is pivotally attached .to the scraper blade by one or the other pin and clevis means hereinafter described. The rear end of the push pole is held in line with the socket member 43 and the shaft member 39 is inserted in the horizontal opening of the bracket member 38 with theexposed portion of the shaft projecting into the cone member. The shaft 39 is then locked in place by means of the pin 42. The projecting shoulder portion of the bracket 38 will bear against the exposed face of the cone member 43 and since the inside wall of the member 43 is a hollow cone the entire push pole may pivot about with the bear- The main body of these socket members is comprised of the frusing of the shaft 39 against the narrowest portion of the cone member as a pivot point. It is apparent that the portion of the shaft 39 projecting in- I ure 5 indicate how movement of the push pole causes pivotal movement of the shaft 59.

In the backfilling position of the scraper blade, that is, with the blade at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the machine the forward end of the push pole 32 is adapted to be fastened to the end portions or land sides 44 by means of the clevis members 3l. The land side members 44 are recessed as indicated at 45 and openings are provided through the member 44 in order that a pin 41 may be pas' ed through the clevis member 31 and through the opening in the land side 44- to fasten the push pole to the land side. The pin 41 is secured in place by means of a. lock pin 48 which passes through the inner end of the pin. This pin and clevis connection permits the necessary pivotal movement of the push pole for tilting of the blade.

It is apparent that when one or the other end of the scraper bade is advanced and the tractor is moving forward the pressure of the material being moved tends to turn the tractor to the right or left opposite to the direction of movement of the material.

It is apparent that the outer surfaces of the land side 44, of the push pole 32, and plates l5 present practically continuous surfaces of large collective area'which bear'against the "side hill or material left after the scraper blade has passed, to prevent the tractor from turning into the side hill, or in other words, .any turning moment set up by the scraper blade or moment tending to divert the earth moving device from its course is opposed by the surfaces presented by the land side, the push pole, and the plates of the side frames.

In adjustment of the scraper-blade about its vertical axis, three push pole members are necessary. If the blade is to be located with one or the other side to the rear, the long push pole 32, indicated in Figure l, is used, and this push pole is of course fastened to the end of the scraper blade which is furthest away from the A frame. If it is desired to have the scraper blade located in the position which is transverse to the lonigtudinal axis of the tractor, as in pushing material directly ahead .of the scraper blade, or in bulldozing position, as it is called, a pair of short push poles 32a, one on each end of the scraper blade, are

used. These push poles are not fastened to the extreme ends of the scraper blades for the reason that in its transverse position the ends of the blade extend some distance beyond the sides of the side frame members and consequently the push poles are fastened directly to the lower portions of the members 3| and are pinned in place by passing pins, such as the pin 41, through the clevises 31a and through openings 50 in members 3L.

In connection with this push pole arrangement we have developed new reinforcing members for the scraper blade 29. These members, previously mentioned as the land side members 44, are preferably heavy castings adapted to be fastened to the blade 29 to act as a reinforcing therefor and to act as cutting edges for the ends of the blades. We have discovered that it is necessary that particular attention be paid to these reinforcing members. These members must be so formed that when the blade is in one or the other of its extreme positions, the outer wall of the land side must be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tractor in order that the land side willnot interfere with material which has been left by the cutting edge of the scraperblade. Furthermore, it

is very desirable that the outer edge of the land side should be parallel to the direction of application of force of the push pole in order to prevent any shearing action. We believe this land side construction to be new to the art, and, therefore, claim it as a part of our invention.

While push poles have been used before in the Pearson patent above-mentioned, it is believed that a push pole of the character described is new to the art and we therefore claim this also as a part of our invention.

It is apparent that our construction has several advantages in opposing the turning of the tractor from its course, that is, the elimination of side draft, in case of attachment, strength, good appearance, and in avoiding any interference with the material at the side of the cut.

It is apparent that modifications may be made by those skilled in the art and such modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of our-invention as set forth in the appended claims. 7

We claim as our invention:

1. In an earth moving device, a pair of blade supporting members one on each side of the device, an A-frame at the front of the device for connecting the front ends of the side members,- a universal joint mounting at the apex of the 'A-frame, a scraper blade engaged to the movable ported by the blade supporting framework, and

a push pole for holding the blade in a given position, the push pole having means at one end thereof for engaging the end of the blade and having a pin at the other end adapted to be engaged in the socket in the frame member.

3. In an earth moving device including a tractor, a blade supporting framework, 9, scraper blade pivotally attached to the front of the plow supporting framework, and a push pole for holding the scraper blade in a given position, said push pole being comprised of a member having a flat outside face, and fastening members for fastening the push pole to the frame and to the scraper blade so disposed that the flat outside face of the push pole is in line with the outer side of the blade supporting framework and the end of the blade.

4. In an earth moving device,'a blade supporting framework mounted on the device, a scraper blade pivotally mounted on the front of the blade supporting framework, ,a push pole for holding the blade in a given position with reference to cated cone-shaped opening therethrough adapted to receive the pin of the push pole, whereby the push pole may oscillate with reference to the framework but cannot be moved therefrom except by removal of the pin from the socket.

5. In an earth moving device, a prime mover, a blade supporting and actuating structure secured on the side of the prime mover and having portions thereof projecting forwardly to a positionin front of the prime'mover, a scraper blade engaged on the blade supporting and actuating structure at the front thereof, and a push pole between the forward end of the blade and the front end of the side portion of the blade supporting and actuating structure, the push pole having a long wide face adapted to act as a land side, the position of the push pole being such that the face thereof constitutes a continuation of the end of the blade to afford a face which is parallel to the line of motion of the earth moving device while in use, and a plate on the blade supporting and actuating structure adapted to act as a continluation of the land side afforded by the push p0 6. In an earth moving device including a tractor; a blade supporting framework, a scraper blade attached to the front of the blade supporting framework, and a push pole for holding the scraper blade in a given position, said push pole being comprised of a member having a flat outside face, and fastening members for fastening the push pole to the frame and to the scraper blade so disposed that the flat outside face of the push pole is in line with the outer side of the blade supporting framework and the end of the blade.

7. In an earth'moving device, a prime mover, a blade supporting and actuating structure operatively engaged to the prime mover and having portionsvthereof projecting forwardly to a position in front of the prime mover, a scraper blade engaged on the blade supporting and actuating structure at the front thereof, and a push pole between the forward end of the blade and the front end of the sideportion of the blade supporting and actuating structure, the push pole having a long wide face adapted to act as a land side, the position of the push pole being such that the face thereof constitutes a continuation of the end of the blade to afford a face which is parallel to the line .of motion of the earth moving device while in use,- and the blade supporting structure being provided with a wide fiat vertically extending face adapted to act as a continuation of the land side afiorded by the push pole.

ROY E. CHOATE. WAIDO E. RODLER. 

